Ironman Journey - Spring

Working hard to see what my body will allow gearing up for the Ironman Triathlon in October of 2026 (swim 2.4 miles, ride 112 miles, run/walk 26.2 miles).  My first focus was to get a couple of shorter races in and gear up for the Boulder 1/2 Ironman (swim 1.2, bike 56 miles, run 13.1 miles) next weekend (June 13th - follow me here.)  I did Boulder in Aug 2019 on a slightly different course 25 lbs lighter, not going through perimenpause so this is going to be full of other challenges related to busy work schedule and peri which packed on a bonus 12 pounds outside of my control the last six months.

Despite all of that I feel like training has been going fairly well.  I have a coach that has been guiding me since February. I ran the stats to see what my total miles and total hours looked like for the spring for just swim, run and biking.  I think a lot of these miles are on the bike at this point but I am curious to see how things progres into the summer.

Because I like data here are my training stats for January through the month of May.  I expect to have way more time and distance in the three main areas as well as twice as much time with strength work, over the next four months but this week I am making it about me and taking things easier.  Processing my thoughts from my race this weekend.  See the race report coming up next.

Got the skis out yay!!!

Occasionally I blow off a workout and do this instead (cross country ski) on a gorgeous winter day. Occasionally I get to go somewhere else to run like DC in January before the mall became a circus act.

Running the mall on a beautiful winter morning
in DC with my favorite running partner.

Annoying the dogs while I ride inside.

Living room bike

Sometimes I just have to grind out the miles indoors.  Here is my livingroom setup on my older road bike. Steve helped me fund a new to me bike, a 2024 Trek Domaine that I got set up for racing. Carbon fiber, electric shifters and disc brakes.  It's like a whole new world on this bike.  Still dialing in the comfort with my local crew at the Ames Bikeworld but wow what a difference from my 20 year old Trek 1500.  Just have to remember to charge the shifter batteries.

Let me introduce you to Babs.  We are spending a lot
of time together these days.  Riding is getting fun again!

Heading into the tough summer training months as my MS really doesn't like being outside when it is hot and muggy so likely some more indoor training ahead, but at least the outdoor pool is open now so yay!

So let me leave you here with a question.  What goal have you been sitting on that you want to shoot for?  Is it a fitness goal, a strength goal, a reading goal, a new activity goal?  What can you do to plan to start?  What can you do to take a step forward on your goals?  They don't have to be big, they don't have to be super hard, but they should help you grow.

I am here for you if you want to share and have an accountability buddy.  Have a great week!

Peri Dragon - Slay that B#$%h

Well I appear to officially be a woman of a certain age.  I have been listening to podcasts, getting inundated with ADs for miracle cures for dealing with issues, reading all the things including recently a list of possible Perimenopause symptoms. Some of them are crazy and some just frankly are PISSING ME OFF!

I have been easing into perimenopause for a couple of years, with irregular cycles after almost 40 years of setting my calendar to my flow.  Crazy rage and snacking, weight gain like someone flipped a switch even though I haven't changed my diet or exercise (I mean 10 lbs in four months for fecks sake!)

Here is a list I came up with that have come and gone or come and stayed the last two years - from watching a video possible of peri symptoms:

• Slower metabolism, fat and weight gain
• Drier straighter hair
• Body odor and more sweaty (like a teenage boy, gross)
• Intermittent narcolepsy during the day
• Sleep disruptions, more frequent bathroom runs at night
• Hot flashes (mine are weird and mostly in my legs... probably an MS short) last night I had 5-6 in an hour while just hanging out watching the Olympics
• Occasional night sweats
• Vertigo
• Brain fog, recalling/spelling words, mental sluggishness
• Intermittent breast tenderness
• Crazy flows, two a month, months without, heavy and long, short and spotty
• Decreasing libido in an otherwise healthy sex life
• Fatigue different from my MS fatigue
• Random joint aches/stiffness like arthritis that come and go at random
• Heal tightness/hug, only in one heal, like it is falling asleep, happens randomly and a challenge when it happens while walking or running
• Changes in food sensitivities and intermittent acid reflux
• Changes in appetite, metabolism and blood sugar spikes
• Less stress resilient 
• Greater anxiety at times
• Crazy rage
• Slower muscle recovery - pushing daily creatine and higher protein intake to counter this.
• And intermittent blood pressure spikes.  Lately its been going crazy while exercising which led me to start doing research.  40+% of women in peri get these.  I found the article below and I am doing all the right things except HRT.  I am not even sure I will be able to take HRT as regular birth control fueled all the migraines when I was younger.

https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/understanding-the-connection-between-menopause-and-heart-rate-changes

I decided to do something really hard this year and that is working with a coach to train for an Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run/walk all in under 17 hours.)  I am in great shape and have been exercising regularly for over a year.  But this last couple of months Peri is kicking my arse and pissing me off.  My workout heartrates are going bonkers the last few weeks.  I've gained ten pounds.  

I'm dialing in my nutrition as I need a fair bit of the right calories to support the workouts and recovery.  I am doing weights a couple times a week as building muscle strength is so so important for anyone over 45 but especially if I want to build up speed and distance.

BUT I am super frustrated.  I'm on a mission for a good peri specialist (may look into midi.com).  I plan to reach out to my GP on the blood pressure spikes but I am 95% sure it is the Peri Dragon being a b$%^h.  I am not crazy, but my body is definitely a strange and foreign land.  What are your experiences? Who did you work with to manage things?  What did you have success with?  HELP.....

Road to Ironman - January

I have a love of all things data so I ran some numbers for the end of year for my fitness adventures.  To recap 2025 I did 2 half marathons, a marathon and a half Ironman triathlon last year.  I was training into October until my last race then backed off a little but kept my base.

Stats from 2025 roughly

Run: 788 miles, longest run 26.4 miles, time spent running 160 hours, net climbing 29000 feet

Bike: 390 miles, longest 56 miles, time spent biking 30 hours, climbing 7600 ft

Swim: 96 miles, longest swim 3200 yards (1.8 miles), time spent swimming 61 hours

Stats from the end of the year

Stats from the start of this year, and totals from Sept.

I have no idea what my mileage will look like by October 20th but I know it will be A LOT more than last year. So far January has been alright.  I've been consistent with runs, bikes, swims, weekly strength work and daily dog walks, even with a week of work travel to DC.  So far I am feeling all right. 

First race of the season was an indoor triathlon two weeks ago.  400 yard swim at 6:32, 7 mile bike right at 22 minutes, and 2 mile run at 19:51 with a little walking due to tired legs.  Good first effort for the season.

The hard things right now are figuring out training nutrition and the right kinds of calories to support the training.  We are working hard to ramp up quality proteins, add supportive supplements like creatin and reduce empty calorie snacking.  I'm am also working hard to build strength to build speed in all three disciplines. 

This past week I started working with a professional triathlon coach. Her specialty is middle aged ladies, and people with health issues.  I am both excited and nervous.  The original first week workouts were not okay and made me very anxious, so we pulled back and adjusted and got onto the routine I already had working. Week one's workouts ended up being fine.  I'm building but not feeling over tired or overwhelmed, that is outside of perimenopause keeping me up at night.

More to come. I'll keep checking in on my journey to my first, only, last ironman triathlon (1OL).

Aurora in Iowa - Nov 2025

Since I was small I have always been interested in astronomy and have always wished to go north and see the Aurora Borealis.  I saw them once in college on a camping trip, but was surprised to be able to see them super clearly in Iowa a week ago so I thought I would share my photos here.  After my friend Adri texted me she saw them I jumped in the car (was home alone) and drove north to McFarland Nature Preserve and hiked down the road near the Observatory where I figured I'd be free of lights.

Was only able to see these with a camera

Star shots above with purples

If I had known they were going to keep getting stronger I would have stayed out at the park a little longer.  So as I drove home, while still outside of town they were getting stronger and stronger so I found a coupe of safe places to pull over and take a couple more photos.

When I got home I realized I could still see them and grabbed a couple more shots from my yard of the bright pinks and purples.  I still aspire to go to Alaska, and Norway and see them again but for now this was still pretty great.  I just wish my family had been home to share them with.

People Like Me - My MS Half Marathon Story

All the marathon and 1/2 marathon 
pacers had fun signs based on famous
people and their race finish times.

Around COVID I learned about a group called RAMMS - Run a Myelin My Shoes, which is a group of people with Multiple Sclerosis and their supporters. It is primarily a running group with people from all over the world. To learn more about the team check our our blog https://runamyelinmyshoes.org/ 

Each year our amazing leader Cheryl comes up with virtual adventures during the early training months, and then has at least one event where we all come together to have comradery and sport together.  The schedules have for the live events haven't worked out with our regularly scheduled adventures.  This year I was determined to do whatever it took to get to the chosen event - Grand Rapids (MI) 5k,10k, 1/2 marathon, marathon) event in October.

Pre race community dinner

One thing about these events is they have several socials usually around Breweries and apparently Grand Rapids is Beer City USA, so of course my sidekick and running buddy Steve was on board.  We opted to do the half marathon on what was a mostly flat course.  We flew in on Saturday morning, shuttled two more teammates from the airport, went to the race expo and made it to the lunch gathering where we meet more of our teammates in person. I can't even describe the joy of knowing other MS warriors like me.  Final numbers were 27 people with MS and 35+ supporters many participating in the 5k, 10k, 1/2 or full marathon.  Being able to speak freely about medications, support devices, crazy MS symptoms with people who get it makes me emotional even writing this.  This group is a lifeline for many of us and we are all so very grateful for the community Cheryl has created for us. After lunch we went to rest a little and later found part of the group for a community meal down the street from our hotel. 

The next morning we were mostly prepared for what mother nature was dishing out... rain, more rain, some wind and a side of low temperatures. We had a team breakfast at the hotel. We collected ponchos and garbage bags and then organized to get us all down the hill to the race start and team photo.

Race Day Before Photo

Based on the different team shirts we saw on the race course I think we were the second largest team only after World Vision that even had their own tent.  It was pretty awesome!  The weather not so much.  I started with my donated poncho on and temps in the low 50s with persistent rain.  I had dialed back my training quite a bit after the half Ironman in September so was feeling rested.  I had a goal to try to get done as close as I could to 2:20 and set a PR for 2025.  This was a pretty flat course.  I had started my race nutrition as planned and got in line with the 2:20 pace sign.

At the start

Within 3 miles I was able to take my poncho off and tie it to the back of my race belt, but by then my shoes and socks were pretty soaked and eventually led to blisters forming. I was running with the marathon pace team for the first half of the race for 4:45 pace and they were having a fun time and playing music. Plus I was able to meet Jim one of my teammates from the East Coast. I was sad when our routes split around mile seven.  

Steve near the start

I did have my headphones along so I was able to dial up some Wait Wait Don't Tell Me from the NPR podcast. 

I saw Cheryl and another teammate going the other way near the turn around so I tried to work my way closer to them. I was working my nutrition plan as best I could but I did have a couple of sluggish miles around mile 9 where I clearly needed to onboard some more something. I need to keep looking for the right gels/gummies, etc for that boost. I forced myself to push through it because I was still on target with my splits. In the end I finished up right at 2:21 for my final time with my pace sign guy.  

Jim and I with the marathon pacers

By then it was getting colder and windier with a side of drizzle and I still needed to wait for my sidekick and a couple other teammates who were not too far behind me. I worked the food line (they had ice cream (brrrr) and found a few other things I was able to safely onboard.  I got my gear bag and bundled up with the rain jacket and other layers available, and headed back to the race finish just in time to see Steve come in.  Steve and Natasha got their free beers and then we went to the YMCA across the street to warm up and wait for a Lyft to take us part way up the hill to our car.

Overjoyed at the finish

We got back to the hotel, warmed up, ate leftovers from the night before (pizza, and some more pizza), napped a bit, and then went down to the lobby to see who was hanging out.  We chatted with Koreen and Dave who I had met years ago on one of the Iowa MS bike rides.  They were working to ride in every state that had an MS bike ride and were mega fundraisers.  Which reminds me I was doing fundraising with this team for this race so if you would like to donate click this link.  https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/604229  I fell short of my fundraising goal but my team was able to clear our team goal. 

Race Day Evening Gathering Pregame

We got a small group together before the final group dinner with Janine, Koreen, Dave and Natasha. We had a little fun on our way out to the group meal with our new little friend.

The group meal was a great opportunity to get to know some of our other teammates.  There was a group of ladies from Minnesota who ran for their friend who has progressive MS and is a wheelchair and needs around the clock support.

I met a father and daughter team from NH who ran the marathon together.  The daughter, Caryl has MS and was helping her dad do his first marathon.  Steve had a great chat with him at the after party.

I met a lady named Debbie who was running with her friend who has MS.  Debbie is a crazy triathlete like me and we were talking about our 2026 goals.

Race Day After Photo

I was able to meet teammates from all over the country with different reasons why they are part of RAMMS and it was all pretty awesome!  My favorite was talking to Gareth from Wales (he has MS and came all that way to run the 5k and then go watch sports in NYC).  We also had another teammate from the UK who got 3rd overall for women in the marathon, and another teammate from Australia who got 1st in his age group for a very fast half marathon time.  

I am in awe of all our teammates (three who ran again at the NYC marathon for the MS society two weeks later) from all over the world who have come together around this horrible chronic illness Multiple Sclerosis. I can't wait to get together with everyone again but it looks like it will be a couple of years.  In 2026 they are doing the Portland Marathon in October, and going to Athens Greece to run the original marathon course in November. I am seriously planning on going for my first (only) Ironman triathlon which falls right between these.  RAMMS first race date for 2027 is over memorial day weekend in New York state which is Joshua's high school graduation weekend so will miss that one also.  At least I know a bunch more people on the team and we all travel for races so I am sure I will see some of our folks at races over the next couple of years.

Grateful every day to be able to keep racing and setting new goals despite having MS and the ever so fun perimenopause. They make every day an adventure.  Right is my medal summary for 2025 - Girls on the Run indoor triathlon in January, not sure if I got a medal from Rosy Cheeks, then Drake 13.1 around the blue oval in April, my first marathon in Duluth in June, Wisconsin 1/2 Ironman triathlon in September, and of course Grand Rapids, MI for the half Ironman with my team.

Until next time hope you are all setting goals and working every day to meet them.

BHAG 2026 - Working the Plan

I had some big goals in 2025 and was able to successfully completely the two major ones.  My first marathon went alright but definitely a lot of room for improvement with my nutrition and speed.  My 5th 1/2 Ironman Triathlon also went alright with room to improve speed in all three disciplines especially the bike, and definitely more fine tuning on the nutrition.

I have tentatively joined the Ames Masters swim team.  I went to swim with the crew at the urging of a friend and I got through a 2200 yard swim with A LOT of stroke work (butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke) and felt okay.  I'll probably go back and try again next week.  Definitely helps that I was a competitive swimmer 35 years ago, and that I swim an hour a week already (2 - 30 minute sessions).  Keeping with my twice a week swims will double my time in the pool.

I also showed up for middle aged soccer.  There is an adult club in town I used to play with but it had been three years.  I made it through almost two hours of playing last Sunday until I started to feel a tad of a strain so I got off the pitch.  I'll take a weekend off and give it another go in November. I was a lot faster when I was doing sprints on the soccer field once a week so this may be part of my building back up my run speed.

So what are my big hairy awesome goals for 2026? Well to continue to work to get stronger, rest when I need to rest, and keep working hard on my fitness and hobbies.  The big one though, is to do an Ironman Triathlon.  I had this on my bucket list for 2021 but we know how that ended up and now I will be five years older and well into my 50s, still fighting MS, but I've proven to myself with preparation is success this year.  So I am on a mission to tackle this BHAG and complete an Ironman Triathlon in 2026.  There is a chance something will stop me from getting there but I believe I can do it so best case scenario I will succeed.  Worst case I will have to try again another year.

Tentative 2026 Race Schedule:

• January 24th - Girls on the Run Indoor Tri - 400 swim, 7 mile bike, 2 mile treadmill run 
• February 7th - Cold outdoor 5k run (will do if no snow) - Speed goal 28 min.
• March 8th (tentative) - Time to Paddy 10k - Goal under one hour.  Alternative race available later in March at the same distance.
• April 25th - Drake Relays Half Marathon (already signed up) - Goal 2:15
• May 17th (Brrr tentative) - Kansas City Olympic Tri - (1500m Swim - 40K Bike - 10K Run)
• June 13th - Ironman 70.3 Boulder - (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run)Tentative System Check - Work nutrition and a strong leg in all three disciplines = Goal under 7 hours
  
• June 28th - Ames sprint triathlon (in my home town)
• August 29th - Clear Lake Olympic Triathlon (tentative)
• October 18th - Ironman Sacramento 140.6 (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) 

Any of my tri friends want to do it with me?  Any friends and family want to come cheer me on?  I am hoping this is a one and done with great conditions and perfect training as I only want to finish one within the allotted time. Then I will have checked off all the triathlon distances and I can just focus on the occasional 70.3 and shorter stuff going forward.                                                                                                                            One thing I know is I will have to work hard.  I will also be fund raising for my MS Society team.  If you didn't donate this year and would like to you can do so at this link: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/604229? 

So my question for you is what BHAG is pestering you?  And what are you going to do about it?  Let's encourage each other to reach our goals and support each other in our discomfort, because in discomfort that is where we grow.  As always thanks for reading.

BHAG - Another 70.3 - Wisconsin 2025

 

Welp another one done.  This was my 5th complete half ironman.  Last year I did the swim on a relay so technically the 6th one I have participated in.

The last complete one I did was in 2019 in Boulder Colorado.  I knew going into this that I had done enough training to get through the race okay, but that I had probably under trained on the bike (story of my 70.3s).

I like this race because it is close to home, we stay with family, and have support on the course to encourage me along.  It was a bit of an overcast day which kept the temps down and that wasn't an issue until the end of the race when I was a bit cold.

I was prepared for a chilly swim so was pleasantly surprised when the water temp with a wetsuit on was nearly perfect.  I wasn't prepared for the weird shoot to get in the water so had to make a train through the masses to get up closer to the front of the swim start with a target time of around 35 minutes. Traffic in the lake wasn't terrible but a lot of people were not swimming straight.  After 40+ years of pool swimming that isn't an issue for me and I generally site and go.  The lake side swim felt strong and then we made the turn to come back along the retaining wall side and it was a bit choppy so I had to really be careful when breathing not to suck lake.  It was just cold enough I didn't have any issues with my bad shoulder and came out of the lake strong for my loopy run up the parking ramp to the bike.

I knew the bike was going to be a challenge for me due to a few things: lack of building up long enough rides to have the mileage in (longest training ride was 30 miles), lack of mental toughness on the bike, and hills... all the hills.  This is a similar course to what I did in 2016 so at least I knew what I was in for but that didn't make it any easier.  I pushed my hydration on the bike to try to get through my salty electrolyte and water bottles.  I also ate a tiny orange and some other small bites to get some food in me on the bike.  I did forget to get some salt capsules in me (had some the night before and first thing in the morning but this caught up with me later in the run). I did see Steve and my cousin Jay early in on the bike but then they were off to disc golf while I ground it out.  I also should have stopped to use the bathroom around mile 40 at the fueling station to make the transition go a tad faster to the run but it worked out.  Did the windy up the ramp to the transition and was pleased to see my friend Leslie there waiting for me.

We chatted while I got my gear sorted to start the run which is probably why I forgot my salt but I wasn't out to set any land speed records on the run.  I used the restroom on the way out and hit the course.  I was run to see several of my triracers teammates on the run even though they were finishing as I was heading out.  My goal for the run was to do it without pain and faster than the 3 hour run I did in 2016.  I did tape my knee to give my IT band and kneecap a little more stability and was glad to have it.

I mile or two in I got to chatting with a doctor who was racing and that distracted us for a 5k or so but the pace was bit faster than I should have been going so make time to stop at the aid stations as needed.  I was having a little hot spot on one foot about half way in but of course all the Vaseline I saw was at the aid stations before I needed it.  I tried to work my plan with my gels for nutrition but realized I also forgot my baggie of electrolytes (and my salt) so did the best I could with what I had.  The sun was intermittent and there was a light breeze so it was really pretty optimal weather conditions.  the last 5 miles or so I was working a run walk where I would run at a strong pace and then power walk until my heart rate went back down, and then repeated.  That kept me going and allowed me to chat with folks if the opportunity presented itself.  I even saw a guy with an ESRI jersey on (the software vendor for the tools I use to do my job) and apparently his daughter was a GIS person.

I saw the guys as I was powering up the swirls in the parking garage (the transition was on the third floor of a parking garage so to come and go we had to go round and round).  It was pretty much all up hill the last 3/4 of a mile (not a fan) so we did the best we could and managed to finish strong downhill into the shoot.

Was super grateful my body let me do another hard thing as with MS and aging that is never a given.  I was grateful to have my partner in life, cousin and tri friend cheering me on. And grateful mother nature was on her best behavior for another Ironman 70.3 finish. (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run)

Of the 70.3 Ironman races I've done this wasn't my slowest or my fastest but I felt good about how it went and positive my body can handle just a little more.  I've got big goals for 2026 and am talking to a triathlon coach.  More to come on that in the next few weeks.

Until next time, Thanks for reading.